Bat numbers tipped to surge

Wildlife officers says numbers in bat colonies around north Queensland are likely to grow in the next few weeks, during the mammals' breeding season.

Joe Adair from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service says bats tend to roost in areas they are familiar with or the area where they were born.

He says there are several known roosts including Eimeo, Bakers Creek and Finch Hatton.

Mr Adair says it is looking at ways to minimise the interaction between bats and humans.

"We've been working with the Mackay Regional Council also to identify those sites and try and put in place some planning arrangements so that people don't necessarily build houses right next to a flying fox colony," he said.

"It's not the best thing for people and it's certainly not the best thing for flying foxes."